Choosing Between Wood, Resin and Acrylic Pens

One of the nicest conversations I have at craft fairs usually starts with someone picking up a pen, turning it over in their hands and asking:

"Which material is best?"

My answer is probably not what they're expecting.

I don't tell them one material is better than another because, honestly, it isn't.

Wood, resin and acrylic all make beautiful pens. They simply appeal to different people for different reasons. The right choice isn't about what's fashionable or expensive – it's about which one makes you smile when you pick it up.

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The Timeless Beauty of Wood

There's something special about a wooden pen.

Every piece of timber has spent years growing before it ever reaches my workshop. The grain, colour and markings have all been shaped by nature, which means no two wooden pens are ever exactly the same.

I love watching the grain appear as I turn a blank on the lathe. Sometimes it's subtle, sometimes dramatic, but it's always unique.

Wood has warmth about it. It feels natural in your hand and seems to become more personal the longer it's used.

People are often drawn to wooden pens because they remind them of something familiar – perhaps a favourite tree, an old piece of furniture or even a family workshop.

The Vibrancy of Resin

Resin couldn't be more different.

Where wood is shaped by nature, resin gives me colours and patterns that nature simply can't produce.

Deep blues, fiery reds, shimmering greens and swirling combinations that seem to change every time you turn the pen in the light.

One of the things I enjoy most is that I never quite know what the finished pen will reveal until the polishing is complete.

Resin pens often attract people who like something a little bolder. They're eye-catching, modern and full of personality.

The Elegance of Acrylic

Acrylic sits somewhere between the two.

It can have incredible depth, almost as though you're looking into the material rather than at it.

Some acrylics have subtle pearl effects, while others shimmer beautifully under different lighting.

They're smooth, durable and wonderfully practical, making them a popular choice for people who use their pens every day.

Like wood and resin, every acrylic blank has its own character, and no two finished pens ever look exactly alike.

Which One Will Last the Longest?

This is another question I'm asked regularly.

The honest answer?

If they're properly made and looked after, all three materials will give you many years of enjoyment.

The material doesn't usually determine how long the pen lasts.

The quality of the craftsmanship does.

That's why I spend my time making sure every pen is properly finished, carefully assembled and tested before it leaves my workshop.

There Isn't a Wrong Choice

I've seen people spend twenty minutes choosing between two pens.

Sometimes they apologise for taking so long.

I always tell them not to worry.

Choosing a handmade pen should never be rushed.

It's not like buying a packet of batteries.

If one particular pen keeps drawing your eye, there's usually a reason.

Trust your instincts.

From My Workbench

People sometimes ask me which material is my favourite.

The truth is, it changes all the time.

One week I'll finish a beautiful piece of olive wood and think, "That's my favourite."

The next week a striking resin blank comes to life on the lathe and changes my mind completely.

That's one of the joys of making handmade pens.

Every new blank has the potential to surprise me.

Final Thoughts

When people ask which material they should choose, I often tell them to stop thinking about the material for a moment and think about the reason they're buying the pen.

• Is it to celebrate a retirement after forty years of hard work?

• A graduation that marks the beginning of a new chapter?

• A wedding gift that might one day become a family keepsake?

Or perhaps it's simply a gift to yourself because you've always wanted a pen that was made by hand.

Sometimes a piece of wood reminds you of walks in the countryside, your grandfather's workshop or an old oak tree you climbed as a child.

Sometimes the colours in a resin pen remind you of the sea, a favourite holiday or your team's colours.

Sometimes an elegant acrylic simply catches your eye, and that's reason enough.

For me, that's what choosing a handmade pen is really about.

You're not just choosing wood, resin or acrylic.

You're choosing the pen that means something to you.

And I think that's exactly how it should be.